Town News Briefing

Hartford police continued their efforts Thursday to identify a man who was beaten to death on a street corner near St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Wednesday.

The victim, who apparently was attacked shortly before midnight, was found dead at the corner of Ashley and Atwood streets. Police said he died from blunt trauma to the head.

The victim, who was pronounced dead at St. Francis, has not yet been positively identified, said Lt. Paul Hammick, head of the major crimes division. The man appeared to be in his late 30s, police said.

The man is the city's 18th homicide victim this year. No suspects have been identified, Hammick said.

BLOOMFIELD

Woman Sentenced

In Witness Tampering

A Bloomfield resident convicted of tampering with a witness was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in prison, suspended after 10 months, the chief state's attorney's office said.

Joyce Bennett-Gibson, 36, of 86 Park St., was convicted of one count of tampering with a witness in connection with a sexual assault case involving her brother.

She was accused of approaching the victim at the courthouse in Hartford, contacting her by telephone and offering her favors to drop the charges during 1999 and 2000, state officials said.

Arthur Chamberlain, 72, of 39 Hebron Road, Bolton, and Gary Giannini, 46, of 84 Point Grove Road, Southwick, Mass., were charged with criminal attempt to commit public indecency. James Marshall, 54, of 136 Dora Drive, Middletown, was charged with public indecency. Each is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 22.

Windsor

Comment Sought On

Town Development

The committee updating the town's plan of conservation and development will hold a public workshop on development-related topics Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

Residents are invited to join a discussion of development topics including economic development, meeting house needs, encouraging appropriate residential development patterns, neighborhood preservation and enhancing village centers.

A development strategy booklet will also be prepared and made available at the Windsor Public Library. The booklet will summarize public input from the workshop and other information on development issues in Windsor. It will also form the basis for discussion of development topics by the committee preparing the town plan, which is required to be updated by the state every 10 years.

The sale will be held inside the society's new headquarters at 98 Summer St. It will feature hundreds of donated or collected items, all of which will be half-price on Sunday. Profits from the sale will benefit the historical society's building and renovation fund. For more information, call the Bristol Historical Society at 860-583-6309.

BRISTOL

Superior Electric

Building Purchased

BRISTOL -- A Massachusetts-based real estate and development company has purchased the Superior Electric building on Middle Street.

Winstanley Enterprises purchased the property for $6.75 million and reportedly plans to spend $5 million to renovate the building. Space already has been reportedly rented out to ESPN, World Fulfillment, and Select Energy.

Mayor Frank N. Nicastro Sr. said it is good news for the economy of Bristol.

``This will create new jobs and tax dollars,'' Nicastro said Thursday. ``They are proceeding at a quick pace to fill the building. The name of the game is to create jobs and the name of the game is to diversify, so it has worked out well.''

Nicastro said Select Energy has signed a 10-year lease.

``What that shows is a commitment to the city,'' Nicastro said.

Superior Electric shut down its 400,000-square-foot factory last year, saying it was vacating the building as part of a reorganization effort by its parent company, Danaher Corp. of Washington, D.C., that involved moving jobs to other cities.

BRISTOL

Big Lots Store

Moving Into City

BRISTOL -- Big Lots, one of the largest close-out retailers in the country, is planning to put a store in Bristol in late November.

The store would occupy the vacant building that once housed Waldbaum's Food Mart in Bristol Farms Plaza on Farmington Avenue, said Pat Zeigler, a Big Lots official.